Boeing Delivers 4th P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft to Indian Navy

Posted On
Friday, 23 May 2014 16:51

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Naval Defense Industry News - USA, India

Boeing Delivers 4th P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft to Indian Navy

Boeing
has delivered the fourth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to India on schedule,
fulfilling the first half of a contract for eight aircraft. The aircraft
departed from Boeing Field in Seattle and arrived May 21 at Naval Air
Station Rajali, where it joined three P-8Is currently undergoing operational
evaluation.

“This marks an important milestone – the halfway point for
P-8I deliveries to India,” said Dennis Swanson, BDS vice president
in India. “The program’s success the past year is really
a testament to the great work between Boeing, the Indian Navy and industry.”

The
fourth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft arrived May 21 at Naval Air Station
Rajali in India
(Picture: Boeing)

Based on the company’s Next-Generation 737
commercial airplane, the P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A
Poseidon that Boeing has developed for the U.S. Navy.

“The Indian Navy is putting the first three P-8Is through their
paces operationally, and the P-8I delivered today will begin flight
trials in the coming months,” said Leland Wight, Boeing P-8I program
manager.

The P-8I incorporates not only India-unique design features, but also
India-built subsystems that are tailored to the country’s maritime
patrol requirements. In order to efficiently design and build the P-8I
and the P-8A, the Boeing-led team is using a first-in-industry, in-line
production process that draws on the company’s Next-Generation
737 production system.

The P-8I features open system architecture, advanced sensor and display
technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment.
P-8I aircraft are built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes
CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE
Systems and GE Aviation.